Question

"In August 1865, the photographer Marcus Ormsbee... took a formal portrait of several groups of craft workers in their different shops... At the center of the photograph, at Outcault's carpentry shop, stands the conventional artisan trio of master, journeyman, and apprentice, still at the heart of the city's workshop world-- yet class differences mark these craftsmen's every feature... Brooding above everyone, a new brick manufacturer seals off its employees from the street and from public view. Small shop and large enterprise converge; New York remains a blend of old and new." (Sean Wilentz, historian, Chants Democratic, 1984)

The conditions described in the excerpt most directly contributed to the
A. Decrease in tariffs for manufactured goods
B. Growth of an organized labor movement
C. Expansion of government regulation of industry
D. Loss of class distinctions in the United States

Answer 1

Answer: B. Growth of an organized labor movement

Explanation: The excerpt describes the photograph taken by Marcus Ormsbee in 1865 which shows the differences between various craft workers and the emergence of large enterprises in New York. The class differences between the workers are marked in their features, with the small shop and large enterprise converging. The conditions described in the excerpt indicate the unequal distribution of wealth and power between the workers, which could have led to the growth of an organized labor movement. The growth of organized labor would have been a response to the conditions described in the excerpt, where workers were seeking better wages, working conditions, and benefits.